A weakness we all share (repetition)

Usually, people’s biggest enemy isn’t made of flesh, blood, and bone. Instead, it’s a psychological juggernaut that deals in negativity.

Its chosen projectiles–on this battlefield of thought–come in three varieties (in order of destructiveness):

1. negative messages
2. limiting beliefs
3. traumatic experiences

These penetrate minds and flower like hollow points.

Belief is shaped by the repetition of concepts, no matter how absurd those concepts may be. This is known as the “Illusory truth effect”; it is a weakness we all have. Conversely, affirmations turn this weakness into a strength.

Repeating positive messages to ourselves helps us:

• remove the shrapnel of negativity
• shield ourselves from future attack
• hold fast to–or remind ourselves of–what we’re fighting for

Affirmations are defensive weapons

This is the U.S. Army’s “Soldier’s Creed”:

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

Source: https://www.army.mil/values/soldiers.html

Reading through it, some boyhood nostalgia is arising.

I never joined the military. But, I recall being in my High School’s Army JROTC program. And the healthy sense of pride I had being part of the squad.

It is a list of, dare I say… affirmations.

My 3 favorite lines are:

1. I am a warrior and a member of a team.
2. I will never accept defeat.
3. I will never quit.

The first one makes me think of my friends and family. It invokes strength, reliability, and a willingness to help others. Though sometimes–amid my own struggles–I lose sight of that part of my character.

The last two bring up some dark memories for me. But they help me to reframe those memories. And see how far I’ve come.

I wish I had those lines rattling around in my mind when I went through some of my darkest life experiences, in which suicide was on the table. I think they would have helped me to be a little stronger then.

Our inner voice repeats itself, why not give it something positive to say?

Like prayer, affirmations can save lives.

They are the psychological tools of warriors.

---

Here’s me chanting my morning affirmations…